Pique Behind the Curtain Vol. 34

A newsletter for those who are interested in climate solutions, media and film production

June 15, 2022

So Long, Styrofoam

Welcome back to our weekly newsletter, Pique Behind the Curtain. If you’ve come in search of climate content, new film features, and all-around positive vibes, then you’ve come to the right place.

We’re sure that you’ve noticed our newsletter pack a bit more of a punch! By including Good Climate News and a new feature story on sustainability, we’re hoping that you get to scratch your itch for positive climate info. If so, please have your friends and colleagues subscribe.

New Release: Ep. 29 Cruz Foam

Ah, styrofoam. We’re all for saving $7 on an overpriced latte by grabbing a cheap cup of coffee at the local bodega, but if it comes in an non-biodegradeable styrofoam cup, let’s agree to pass. (And anyway, isn’t the fact that we associate the packing with low-quality goods a red flag to begin with?)

Over the last few decades, there have been multiple debates about whether styrofoam is biodegradable or not. Because it is so chemically stable, once it’s in the environment, it will remain there for generations in some shape or form. The Society of Environmental Journalists states that it requires about 500 years to decompose, and even then, we’re not exactly sure what that means. Despite this, several million tons of styrofoam are produced every year. Once that styrofoam packaging becomes marine litter, it degrades into microplastics making it almost impossible to collect.

It’s not just that cup either. The materials companies choose for products like packaging have a direct impact not only on the climate crisis but on consumer prices and human suffering. We want to replace styrofoam, sure, but nobody wants to pay for for anything…so we want to do it… for free. An order taller than your venti latte? Maybe. Or maybe not, thanks to Cruz Foam.

Using chitin, an abundant natural biopolymer found in shellfish like crab, shrimp, and lobsters, this company is producing novel thermoplastic pellets that eliminate the need to use harsh, environmentally-harmful chemicals in the packaging production process. A sustainable product that breaks down naturally!

Huzzah! Your affordable caffeinated beverage has been saved.

Planned Obsolescence

To replace, or to repair? If Shakespeare had an iPhone, he’d probably have asked that question instead.

Planned obsolescence is a lesser-known term that causes a widely experienced problem. By producing consumer goods with a limited lifespan and using nondurable materials, products rapidly become obsolete, requiring consumers to replace them. This is particularly true of technology in modern equipment. If you’ve ever found yourself with a water-damaged phone that costs $1000 to repair but only $100 more than that to replace, you know what we mean.

Some companies will intentionally introduce planned obsolescence to generate long-term sales volume by reducing the time between repeat purchases. Products are sometimes made to contain design features meant to frustrate repairers, such as Apple's "tamper-resistant" pentalobe screws that are not easily removed with common personal-use tools.

But it’s not just big tech purchases. Think about the lifespan of a lightbulb, the inability to refill an ink cartridge, the way every pair of nylon stockings you’ve ever owned have ripped. (That’s right, Shein isn’t working to build you the best possible quality clothing. Shocking, I know.) The problem is that low-quality inputs often correlate to low price points that draw consumers in. And then again when their product breaks. And then again, and again…

That’s why groups and institutions have begun pushing for action in a movement called the “right to repair.” The goal is to foster laws that make it illegal for companies to sell products that only they can repair. Right to repair advocates for owners of products to own their devices fully, so people can use, modify, and repair gadgets when, where, and how they want.

In terms of the environment, the implications are far-reaching. Food scraps and single-use plastic are far from the sole contributors to waste. Electronics are difficult to recycle, so many of them end up in landfills or polluting natural habitats. In 2019, there were 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste generated globally - a number expected to exceed 70 million metric tons by 2030.

Being able to repair products helps cut down on e-waste, lengthens the lifespan of devices, and offers a better opportunity to introduce products to second-hand markets - all of which help cut down on emissions. Not only that, but decentralizing repair processes can help support local economies and provide more affordable and accessible options to consumers.

Watch our quick explainer on planned obsolescence here.

Learn more about the right to repair movement on their website.

https://www.reliance-foundry.com/blog/planned-obsolescence-sustainability

Good Climate News!

This week in good climate news 🌍:

Drop Everything - The Climate Needs You

Three years ago, Eugene Kirpichov watched Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth during a plane ride. The more he looked into the implications of climate change, the more he realized he had to do something about it. When the pandemic hit and he saw the impact that taking decisive action can have on others, he and colleague Cassandra Xia quit their comfortable jobs at Google to come work on climate.

Kirpichov shared his email on LinkedIn and received an incredible response. Turns out, plenty of people want to help fight climate change for a career - they just aren’t sure how.

In July 2020, the pair started a Slack workplace to give those in a climate career transition a space to speak. Two years later, they have the “world’s largest climate community,” now home to more than 8,500 members. The Slack space called Work On Climate gives those with backgrounds in design, tech, development, and more a community to find potential cofounders, early employees, and like-minded individuals.

The good news within the good news? Any job can be a climate job.

For tips and tricks on how to transition to climate, check out Climate Jobs on TikTok.

What We’re Watching, Reading, and Listening to

Searching for more positive climate content? Look no further!

Calling All Filmmakers!

Bloomberg Green Docs is open for submissions. They want to see your short documentaries on climate change. Submit your film by September 16 and compete to win a $25,000 grand prize, plus the opportunity to showcase your work at a special screening in Los Angeles on October 26.